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VACFLUSHMO
Month of most recent flu shot vaccine
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Codes and Frequencies



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Description

For sample adults and sample children who had a flu shot vaccine in the past 12 months, VACFLUSHMO reports the month of the sample person's most recent flu shot vaccine. For the associated year of the most recent flu shot vaccine, see VACFLUSHYR.

See the Comparability Tab for additional information about changes to the universe and construction of this variable over time as well as information about seasonal flu versus H1N1 flu vaccinations in 2009-2011.

Comparability

For sample children surveyed after August 10, 2010 in the 2010 NHIS sample and sample adults beginning in the 2016 NHIS sample, a streamlined set of questions about flu vaccines was asked. Sample persons were asked if they had received a flu vaccine in the past 12 months (VACFLU12M), then asked for the month (VACFLUMO) and year (VACFLUYR) of their most recent vaccine, as well as the mode of their most recent flu vaccine (choosing between a shot or nasal spray) (VACFLUMODE). Sample children were asked if they had more than one vaccination in the past year (VACFLUNUM) and could also report the mode (VAC2FLUMODE), month (VAC2FLUMO), and year (VAC2FLUYR) of their second most recent flu vaccination.

Earlier versions of the flu vaccine variables were structured differently 

In 2005-2015 for sample adults, and 2005-August 10, 2010 for sample children, the survey asked whether sample persons had a flu shot vaccine (VACFLUSH12M), and also asked if they had a flu nasal spray vaccine (VACFLUSP12M) in the past 12 months. For either mode of vaccination the sample person reported receiving in the past 12 months, they were asked for the month (VACFLUSHMO/VACFLUSPMO) and year (VACFLUSHYR/VACFLUSPYR) of their most recent vaccine by this mode.

The 2010 NHIS sample includes variables associated with both versions of the flu vaccine questions. In 2011-forward, the original NHIS files do not offer the variables associated with VACFLUSHMO. IPUMS NHIS has combined the generic flu vaccination information with the mode of vaccine to replicate VACFLUSHMO for sample children surveyed after August 10, 2010 and for sample adults in 2016 forward. Where sample children reported multiple vaccines after August 10, 2010, the variables reporting time of the "most recent" (VACFLUMO and VACFLUYR) vaccination that is a flu shot are used to assign values to VACFLUSHMO. In rare cases, a sample child may report a "second most recent" vaccine (VAC2FLUMO and VAC2FLUYR) of the same mode that is closer to the interview date than the date reported by VACFLUMO and VACFLUYR; IPUMS NHIS uses the reported "most recent" values of VACFLUMO and VACFLUYR even in these cases.

Seasonal versus H1N1 flu vaccines
Generally, the survey question associated with this variable asks about seasonal flu vaccines and specifies that they are usually given in the fall to protect against influenza for the flu season. The 2009-2010 seasonal flu vaccine did not include protection against H1N1, as the H1N1 vaccine was developed later; from October 2009-August 10, 2010, the survey question explicitly clarifies that sample persons are NOT to include H1N1 or "swine" flu vaccines when answering this question. In January 2010, the NHIS added distinct supplemental questions about H1N1 flu vaccinations (VACH1N1GOT). Beginning on August 11, 2010 onward, the survey question clarifies that the sample person's most recent flu vaccination could have been the new 2010-2011 seasonal flu vaccine (which included protection against H1N1) or an H1N1 vaccine, but does not clarify which vaccination the sample person received.

Universe

  • 2005-2009: Sample adults and sample children who had a flu shot vaccine in the past 12 months.
  • 2010: All sample adults and sample children interviewed before August 11, 2010 who had a flu shot vaccine in the past 12 months, or sample children interviewed after August 10, 2010 who had one or more flu vaccines in the past 12 months and reported shot as the mode of vaccination for their most recent or second most recent vaccine.
  • 2011-2015: Sample adults who had a flu shot vaccine in the past 12 months, and sample children who had one or more flu vaccines in the past 12 months and reported shot as the mode of vaccination for their most recent or second most recent vaccine.
  • 2016-2018: Sample adults who had a flu vaccine in the past 12 months and reported shot as the mode of vaccination, and sample children who had one or more flu vaccines in the past 12 months and reported shot as the mode of vaccination for their most recent or second most recent vaccine.

Availability

  • 2005-2018

Weights